The great family drama comes to an end, and we bring in the Atlantic essayist to talk privilege and parenting, menace and beauty, and the real tragedy of the show
My fiancé didn’t like the ending, but I loved it. He said he didn’t understand why Shiv would ultimately side with Tom over the siblings, i.e., Ken. I totally got it, however. Tom loves Shiv and will always protect her. Plus, he’s the father of her child! He’ll make sure that child gets everything it needs. If Ken took over the company he’s be a loose cannon plus he’d always be looking out for his interests before anyone else’s. Tom and Shiv, insomuch as they’re married or at least co-parents, have interests that overlap way more than Shiv and her brothers.
Shiv was smart to swallow her pride and align with Tom. He got what he always wanted. Now he’ll ensure Shiv has everything she needs.
I watched the finale with my kids. They all had a different take-away about the Kendall/Roman stitch popping hug.
Roman was freaked out when he saw Gerri- and became anxious and obsessed about the cuts on his face, saying they were healing and he didn't look like someone who won a fight ( I'm paraphrasing). They thought Kendall was opening the stitches on purpose in order make Roman look more messed up and tougher so he could save face.
Quick take: I have to agree with Nancy. Shiv voted yes because she realized no good would come of the three of them running the company, with Kendall at the helm. They are too self destructive and giving the children the keys to the castle would have only amplified that destructiveness.
I think the show fascinated me because I’m very curious about how we take our unconscious childhood survival mechanisms into adulthood. How those manifest in our adult relationships. I thought Snook, Culkin and Strong did an amazing job going flipping those switches from “normal” adult behavior to insecure children cowering their father when dealing with Logan. Their fear of him was primal, especially evident in Roman.
I have a tendency to look at damaged adults, especially those who treat others poorly , and see the still hurting kid underneath.
Also, I wish I had the time to go back and rewatch the show and pay a bit more attention to Tom.
Not since The Americans ended have I been thinking so much (read: obsessing) about a finale, but you introduced some thoughts I hadn't considered. The point about privilege, why is that framework always equal to money/nepotism as if that's synonymous with being the true advantage? The complexity - lack of stability! - of the swimming scene.
To me, the kitchen scene was almost all sweet. I didn't have any sense of their seething underneath. I thought of it as a window into what could have been, playful joking among sibs, if they hadn't always been pitted against each other. I probably should rewatch it but I'm not there emotionally yet (only kinda kidding).
Of course Shiv voted yes. It made perfect sense to rid herself and her brothers of of all the drama by selling the company. What did not make sense is how exactly did Shiv get pregnant? She had one of the worse marriages I've ever seen on TV. She constantly belittled and humiliated her husband, and he just took it. But I guess he could nevertheless still get it up for her.
Another take on the "3 generations to a Shakespeare scholar" is "shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in 3 generations" coined, apparently, by Andrew Carnegie and which I became aware of while working for Seagram in the 80's and 90's. At the time it was run by the grandson of the founder and he had that saying hanging in his office. Sadly, he failed to learn the lesson.
I didn’t see the ending coming exactly, but a few weeks ago I proclaimed “hell hath no fury like Shiv scorned”, so her final actions didn’t surprise me.
Spoiler Alert:
My fiancé didn’t like the ending, but I loved it. He said he didn’t understand why Shiv would ultimately side with Tom over the siblings, i.e., Ken. I totally got it, however. Tom loves Shiv and will always protect her. Plus, he’s the father of her child! He’ll make sure that child gets everything it needs. If Ken took over the company he’s be a loose cannon plus he’d always be looking out for his interests before anyone else’s. Tom and Shiv, insomuch as they’re married or at least co-parents, have interests that overlap way more than Shiv and her brothers.
Shiv was smart to swallow her pride and align with Tom. He got what he always wanted. Now he’ll ensure Shiv has everything she needs.
I thought the ending was perfect and just how it should be. Amazing acting. Phenomenal show.
Fun listen even with the audio glitches. Really enjoyed "Succession."
I watched the finale with my kids. They all had a different take-away about the Kendall/Roman stitch popping hug.
Roman was freaked out when he saw Gerri- and became anxious and obsessed about the cuts on his face, saying they were healing and he didn't look like someone who won a fight ( I'm paraphrasing). They thought Kendall was opening the stitches on purpose in order make Roman look more messed up and tougher so he could save face.
I'm on season one episode 3. Looking forward to the binge!
Quick take: I have to agree with Nancy. Shiv voted yes because she realized no good would come of the three of them running the company, with Kendall at the helm. They are too self destructive and giving the children the keys to the castle would have only amplified that destructiveness.
I think the show fascinated me because I’m very curious about how we take our unconscious childhood survival mechanisms into adulthood. How those manifest in our adult relationships. I thought Snook, Culkin and Strong did an amazing job going flipping those switches from “normal” adult behavior to insecure children cowering their father when dealing with Logan. Their fear of him was primal, especially evident in Roman.
I have a tendency to look at damaged adults, especially those who treat others poorly , and see the still hurting kid underneath.
Also, I wish I had the time to go back and rewatch the show and pay a bit more attention to Tom.
Great episode!
Not since The Americans ended have I been thinking so much (read: obsessing) about a finale, but you introduced some thoughts I hadn't considered. The point about privilege, why is that framework always equal to money/nepotism as if that's synonymous with being the true advantage? The complexity - lack of stability! - of the swimming scene.
To me, the kitchen scene was almost all sweet. I didn't have any sense of their seething underneath. I thought of it as a window into what could have been, playful joking among sibs, if they hadn't always been pitted against each other. I probably should rewatch it but I'm not there emotionally yet (only kinda kidding).
Of course Shiv voted yes. It made perfect sense to rid herself and her brothers of of all the drama by selling the company. What did not make sense is how exactly did Shiv get pregnant? She had one of the worse marriages I've ever seen on TV. She constantly belittled and humiliated her husband, and he just took it. But I guess he could nevertheless still get it up for her.
Another take on the "3 generations to a Shakespeare scholar" is "shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in 3 generations" coined, apparently, by Andrew Carnegie and which I became aware of while working for Seagram in the 80's and 90's. At the time it was run by the grandson of the founder and he had that saying hanging in his office. Sadly, he failed to learn the lesson.
I didn’t see the ending coming exactly, but a few weeks ago I proclaimed “hell hath no fury like Shiv scorned”, so her final actions didn’t surprise me.
I’m guessing this contains spoilers?
Thanks so much for this episode!!! I just finished the finale. Agree with all your opinions!